Edmonton Briefs - August

Foodbank collection at Aboriginal Pavilion

Edmonton’s Food Bank was collecting donations at the Aboriginal Pavilion during the Heritage Festival in Hawrelak park on the August long weekend. “The festival is a crucial food drive for Edmonton’s Food Bank as it helps restock our shelves,” said Marjorie Bencz, executive director of Edmonton’s Food Bank. The 26th annual Brown Bag Food Drive raised a record setting 48,846 kg of food, $54,196 in monetary donations and $48,560 worth of unused food tickets. The Aboriginal Pavilion was hopping this year with dancers, performers and Native food.

Royal Alberta Museum restores Sunwapta totem pole

An iconic piece of Edmonton’s history is being brought back to life as the Royal Alberta Museum carries out conservation work on the Sunwapta totem pole. For over 30 years, until 1988, the Sunwapta pole was a landmark on the grounds of the CFRN television station on Stony Plain Road. A creation of renowned carver and Squamish Chief Joe Mathias, the Sunwapta pole was purchased in 2010 by a group of CFRN’s former employees and donated to the Royal Alberta Museum. Cultural and conservation advisors will work with museum staff on stabilizing the totem pole and returning it to a condition suitable for exhibition.

Walk held to raise awareness

Vivian and Paul Tuccaro led a walk through downtown Edmonton on July 30 to remind people about their daughter Amber Tuccaro, 20, who disappeared from a Nisku motel last year, leaving behind her young son. The couple was joined by dozens of supporters, many travelling in from Fort Chipewyan where Amber grew up. “In Canada there (are) a disproportionate number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women,” said April Eve Wiberg, an organizer of the walk. Project Kare is assisting Leduc RCMP in the investigation into Tuccaro’s disappearance. The RCMP unit was created partly to focus on missing persons cases that involve high-risk lifestyles.

Youth assembly focuses on water issues

Danika Littlechild, a lawyer from the Ermineskin Cree Nation, talked about her work on water governance and Aboriginals at the Global Youth Assembly held July 27-30. Ignite Change Now, organized by the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, took place at the University of Alberta. This year’s theme was “Our world, our water,” and covered topics ranging from the Alberta oilsands to African development. “Many First Nations do not receive treated water,” said Littlechild, relying instead on wells and trucks. Others lack sewage systems, and dump sewage dangerously close to wells. “They simply do not have the resources or the capacity to address these issues on their own.”

Outreach team targets street-involved people with addiction issues

Boyle Street Community Services, the George Spady Centre, and Streetworks have combined to form the Mobile Outreach Addictions Team. The three-person team was created with the support of Alberta Mental Health Services to address concerns that some homeless people with addiction issues were not accessing available support services. Team members go out daily, meeting with high risk, street-involved people, helping them learn more about substance treatment programs and services, and how to access them. A key part of this role is building and maintaining relationships as the client receives addictions treatment. The team works along the Harm Reduction continuum with treatment being one way in which individuals can stabilize their lives, and clients are given ongoing supports to assist them in attending assessment and treatment programs.

Father Lacombe Mission celebrates

Aug. 14 marked the 150 anniversary celebration of the Father Lacombe Chapel Provincial Historic Site. Built by Father Albert Lacombe and local Métis in 1861, the chapel became the centre of French-speaking and Métis communities in the area and resulted in the present city of St. Albert. Special guest speakers were in attendance and a ceremony held to mark the occasion.

Compiled by Shari Narine